Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-15
An Unique Railroad Enterprise.

CORRESPONDENCE OF the New York sun.
ADELPHI, Ohio, Dec. 10.-ThiS old but pic
turesque village, whose corporation includes the
northeast corner OF Ross County, is a terminus at
this time OF railroad that has no parallel In the
United states. The corporate name is pretentlous
enough. II is the Cincinnati, Hooking Valley and
Huntington Railroad, which will cover line
from Cincinnati north OF Chillcothe thence to the
Hooking Valley and to Huntington, on the Ohio
river distance OF $50 miles. But the road Is but
ten miles in length, built, running from Adelph
10 Klngston-ail In Ross county. 1t is substan-
lati0n TO it makes It unlike any other
Tue line could scarcely be better Leaving the
Scloto Valley Railroad at Kingston, 1t runs nearly
HallsyEle, ten miles TO Adelphi. The track lies
almost all the way on the surface OF the ground
There Is but one little bridge, one short low trestle
and almost no cuts considerable portion OF It
is In the fertile 'praire" which stretches across to
the west from Adelphi to Kingston, and IL ali runs
through rich and productive farming lands. More
over, ft opens TO the markets or the world these
f1ne lands, which have hitherto been dependent on
long haul5 by wagons for all their supplies and for
transportation OF produce
The town Of Adelphl owes its existence in the
hrst place to the fact that It was on the line OF
travel In early times" between Marietta the FIRST
capital OF the Northwestern Territory and of the
State OF Ohio. The next reason for its existence
Is the natural beauty OF Its location. 1t lies Just
on the border, between the hills and the broad and
fertile plains and 'praires" they are called by
the early settlers. The town is on beautifully
from witch the oeauties Of Laurel Valley. naE,
row ravine, from the hills may be conIrAsted with
the broad fertile bottom lands OF Salt Greek,
enthusiastically without break. Pennsylvanians
formed the majority OF It's founders, and their de-
scendents are here yet.
one OF them, John Karshner, is the organizer OF
this road. He Is wealthy farmer, who formerly
was leading politician, and was always a man OF
that he finally formed an serial company, obtained
hight OF way with some donations ana, as the
company never had any funds to speak Of to justify
undertaking to build the entire road MIR. Karshner
told farmer that he wa9 determined to bring the
cars TO this town, and undertook with his own
means to build the road from Kingston TO AdelphL
He went at 1t In person. became railroad builder
and by shrewd and careful business management
In due course OF time saw his ideal Accomplished,
ROAD built, and the company, which had looked on
during the building. began to desire. to take pos
session. But Mr.. Karshner does not sleep on his
rights, and he assumed possession by virtue of his
having furnished the money and actually built the
road. Nevertheless, litigation to GUST him was be-
gun, put 50 far ne has neld his place, and he is
When the road was built he sold the crops Of his
farms for one year and bought locomotive, which
combination passenger and baggage car and his
equipment was complete. He has been operating
his sor road for two years Al rst he smpoyed
custom OF larger roads But being an active man,
though over seventy years OF age, ne soon dis.
combines within himself the entire list OF railroad
, men, from owner and president TO conductor and
brakeman His train goes twice day from Adel-
phi TO Kingston and return It will stop ON signal
At any farm house or cross-road for passengers or
freight MI. Karshner goes on every train as con-
ductor, brakeman, baggagemaster, mail and ex-
press agent, ana even as news agent He sells no
tickets; has no running arrangements with other
roads, has no running accounts for freight passen-
gers or express; everything IL cash. He does not
require o Dookkeeper, nor even clerk. He pays
the scioto Valley It's charges heights TO Kings
ton, and adds his own charges, collecting the whole
upon delivery. No railroad In the country Is man
aged on more simple ana economical principles,
their patrons It's passengers have no fear OF col
lsaons nor OF being run down By following trains
It's Sae train has always the right OF way. It has
no use for Geographic orders nor trade in despatch